Torvald Klaveness Group is in negotiations to sell some of its containerships tonnage.
Brokers claim that the Oslo-based shipowner has sold the 2,500-teu Baleares and Bardu (both built 2014) to an undisclosed buyer for $18m each.
Group chief executive Lasse Kristoffersen confirms that the company is in negotiations for selling tonnage, although no deal has been completed.
“There is great interest in the market for our boxships,” he said.
Kristoffersen said the company does not plan to exit the segment and that its fleet of boxships are now enjoying a very firm market.
There are very few transactions being concluded for this size of modern containership. The sale-and-purchase market has surged in the last year, stabilising at strong levels.
In the larger containership market, for example, Songa Container's recent sale of the 4,957-teu Songa Toscana (built 2013) has fetched a healthy profit for the Norwegian shipowner.
The Arne Blystad-led company sold the ship to TS Lines for $42.3m, having paid just $23m for the vessel in 2018, when it was the Hammonia Toscana.
Klaveness has eight containerships built between 2004 and 2014.
Most of the the ships are described as eco vessels and were reportedly ordered for close to $40m each.
The company's move to reduce its exposure to the boxship segment comes as it has been building up the fleet of Klaveness Combination Carriers, which has a fleet of 15 vessels and two newbuildings.
